It is reminiscent of the draft Syrian Transition Support Act of 2013. That proposed act called, at the end of other provisions, for the arming of rebel units. The act was never enacted. This one has been – by the House only, so far. If its requirements on a no-fly zone become law, they will be Trump’s problem, not Obama’s.

At this stage, America’s imposing a no-fly zone over even part of Syria would require an immense military effort, as Russian anti-air defences would first have to be destroyed. As long ago as 2012, at an Armed Services Committee hearing, this problem was articulated, by Dempsey, but not as one which was insurmountable. Graham asked a telling question:

“Senator GRAHAM. My final thought is that if the slaughter continues I do believe that the world, including the United States, has the capability to neutralize the slaughter through air power. And
given the way the world is and the way Syria is, is there a likelihood, even a remote possibility, that if we engaged the artillery forces and the tank drivers who are killing people who basically have AK- 47s, that maybe the other people in tanks would get out and quit if we blew up a few of them?